AISA ALL-STATE FOOTBALL: Billins, Watson selected as top players for 2025
Abbeville Christian quarterback Ahmod Billins was selected as the AISA Class AA-AAA Player of the Year after leading the Generals to the Class AA state championship last season. (File Photo)
STAFF REPORT
The Alabama Independent School Association released its 2025 all-state football team, including quarterbacks Ahmod Billins and Ronta Watson as its players of the year.
The AISA all-state team was selected by a vote of the organization’s coaches. The coaches in Class AA and AAA selected a team and the coaches in 8-man football (Class A) selected their own team.
Billins was the overwhelming choice in AA-AAA after helping Abbeville Christian Academy turn around its fortunes, going from 2-8 in 2024 to AA state champion in 2025.
The 6-foot-2, 170-pound senior, who is committed to the University of Missouri, was a unanimous pick as either a quarterback, defensive back or an athlete, finishing ahead of Lowndes Academy’s Jeremy Hardy in balloting for player of the year honors.
Billins completed 93 of 159 passes for 1,689 yards and 34 touchdowns, with many of those passes going to wide receiver Jayden Buckhannon, another all-state selection. Billins also scored six rushing touchdowns as well, accounting for 40 touchdowns in 13 games.
Abbeville Christian Academy coach Stefan Gainey was selected as the AA-AAA coach of the year after leading the Generals to a 12-1 record with a high-powered offense that generated 520 points this season. The Generals’ only loss this season was to AAA state champion Chambers.
In Class A, the coaches selected Escambia Academy quarterback Ronta Watson as the 8-man player of the year after leading the Cougars to the state finals. Watson rushed for 2,280 yards and 21 touchdowns, while passing for 1,697 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also made 72 tackles at defensive back and was put on the all-state team as an athlete.
His coach, Larry Nichols, was selected as the coach of the year after taking over a program that had gone 2-7 in Class AA in 2024 as it struggled to find enough players to field a team. The Cougars dropped from 11-man to 8-man football and went 11-2, scoring 617 points to reach the finals, losing only to Macon East in the regular season and again in the finals.
AISA ALL-STATE FOOTBALL TEAMS
Player of the Year -- Ahmod Billins, Abbeville Christian
Coach of the Year -- Stefan Gainey, Abbeville Christian
CLASS AA-AAA
OFFENSE
WR -- Jayden Buckhannon, 6-1, 180, Sr., Abbeville Christian
WR -- John Cosby, 5-9, 170, Sr., Valiant Cross
TE -- Eli Whorton, 6-0, 225, Sr., Chambers
RB -- Julian Curry, 5-9, 170, Sr., Wilcox
RB -- Peyton Yerta, 5-8, 185, Sr., Chambers
RB -- Remington Faile, 6-0, 210, Sr., Patrician
QB -- Ahmod Billins, 6-2, 170, Sr., Abbeville Christian
OL -- Gabe Bridges, 6-1, 265, Sr., Chambers
OL -- Caine McLaughlin, 6-0, 240, Sr., Morgan
OL -- Drew Sheppard, 6-2, 220, Jr., Chambers
OL -- Ben Knowles, 5-10, 240, Sr., South Choctaw
OL -- Spencer Newman, 6-4, 330, Sr., Chambers
Ath -- Jeremy Hardy, 6-0, 180, Sr., Lowndes
PK -- Kemper Waters, 6-1, 180, Sr., Fort Dale
DEFENSE
DL -- Rodarian Glover, 6-3, 283, Sr., Abbeville Christian
DL -- Brock Whitt, 6-4, 230, Sr., Edgewood
DL -- Justin Smalley, 6-0, 270, Sr., Southern
DL -- Alex Cruz, 5-8, 250, Sr., South Choctaw
LB -- Kent Nelson, 5-11, 175, Sr., Chambers
LB -- Jim Vick, 5-10, 160, Sr., Wilcox
LB -- Colton Fuller, 5-10, 170, Jr., Chambers
LB -- Steele Swanner, 5-11, 165, So., Wilcox
DB -- Bryce Mudling, 6-1, 165, Sr., Chambers
DB -- Riddge Crawford, 5-11, 165, So., Abbeville Christian
DB -- Bryson Reid, 6-2, 185, Jr., Patrician
DB -- Kade Carroll, 6-2, 170, Jr., South Choctaw
P -- Cooper Carver, 6-1, 195, Sr., Lowndes
Honorable mention: Tyler Belser, OL, 6-0, 220, Sr., Valiant Cross; Jackson Black, 5-11, 235, Sr., Fort Dale; Ethan Carr, RB, 5-10, 180, Jr., Patrician; Ethan Dow, WR, 6-0, 175, Sr., Bessemer; Kamden Fuller, LB, 5-6, 180, Jr., South Choctaw; Brooks Henderson, TE, 6-2, 200, Sr., South Choctaw; Alex Johnson, QB, 6-0, 180, Sr., Morgan; Evan Kimbrow, OL, 6-5, 310, Jr., Southern; Cason Sexton, RB, 5-10, 180, Sr., Southern; Dawson Sikes, RB, 5-9, 175, Jr., South Choctaw; Landon Smith, WR, 5-10, 160, Sr., Edgewood; Patrick Thomas, LB, 5-10, 175, So., Southern; Trey Tigner, DB, 5-9, 150, So., Chambers; Coratio Vinson, DB, 5-10, 190, Fr., Valiant Cross; Hagan Wallace, DL, 6-4, 200, So., South Choctaw.
CLASS A (8 MAN)
Player of the Year -- Ronta Watson, Escambia Academy
Coach of the Year -- Larry Nichols, Escambia Academy
OFFENSE
WR -- Sam Wallace, 5-8, 150, Sr., Macon East
WR -- Jackson Weston, 6-1, 180, So., Southern Prep
OL -- Brooks Klinner, 6-3, 245, Sr., Coosa Valley
OL -- Maddox Boyette, 6-2, 270, Sr., Escambia
OL -- Andrew Weaver, 6-2, 190, Sr., Coosa Valley
QB -- Brandon Fitch, 6-3, 175, So., Macon East
RB -- Mathew Simpson, 5-10, 165, So., Macon East
Ath -- Ronta Watson, 5-8, 155, Sr., Escambia
K -- Thor Papera, 6-2, 175, Sr., Springwood
DEFENSE
DL -- Jomarion Miles, 6-2, 295, Sr., Evangel Christian
DL -- Jackson Moore, 5-10, 210, Sr., Cornerstone
DL -- Cole Streetman, 5-10, 165, Sr., Macon East
LB -- Tucker Sides, 6-0, 195, Sr., Springwood
LB -- Nate Riddle, 5-11, 175, Sr., Trinity Christian
DB -- Brayden Pace, 6-1, 165, So., Southern Prep
DB -- T.C. Sanders, 5-9, 200, Sr., Cornerstone
DB -- Nate Doss, 5-10, 185, Jr., Evangel Christian